A successful food plot for whitetail deer requires a strategic mix of perennial and fall hunt plots to provide consistent nutrition, enhance soil health, and maximize deer attraction throughout the year. In this blog, we’ll explore why combining these two types of plots, using specific products like Hot Chic, Comeback Kid, Big Sexy, Smack Down, Show Stopper, 3-Way Grainz, Green Machine, and NO BS, is essential for your property and how Farm & Home Supply in Quincy, Illinois, has you covered for all your Domain Outdoor seed and plot-enhancing liquids this fall. Be sure to stop by TODAY!

Why a Mix of Perennial and Fall Hunt Plots is Key

A well-designed food plot strategy incorporates both perennial and fall hunt plots to ensure year-round food availability and improve hunting success. Here’s why this combination, with the right seed mixes, is critical for a thriving deer habitat:

Perennial Plots: The Foundation of Year-Round Nutrition

Perennial food plots, such as those planted with Hot Chic (a clover-chicory blend) or Comeback Kid (a durable alfalfa mix), are the backbone of a sustainable food plot program. These plants grow back year after year, offering several key benefits:

• Long-Term Nutrition: Perennials like Hot Chic and Comeback Kid provide high-protein forage (often exceeding 25-30%) that supports antler growth, fawn development, and overall herd health during spring and summer months. These blends ensure deer have a reliable food source when natural forage is limited, with Hot Chic offering shade tolerance and Comeback Kid thriving in tougher soils.

• Soil Health: Perennials, particularly legumes in Hot Chic, fix nitrogen in the soil, improving fertility and reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers. Their deep root systems, especially in Comeback Kid, enhance soil structure, preventing erosion and promoting water retention.

• Low Maintenance: Once established, perennial plots like Hot Chic and Comeback Kid require minimal upkeep compared to annuals. Periodic mowing and weed control can keep these plots productive for 3-5 years, making them a cost-effective choice for long-term land management.

Fall Hunt Plots: Maximizing Attraction During Hunting Season

While perennials provide a solid foundation, fall hunt plots planted with cool-season annuals like Big Sexy, Smack Down, or Show Stopper brassica mixes, as well as grain blends like 3-Way Grainz, Green Machine, and NO BS, are essential for drawing deer to your property during the hunting season. These plots offer unique advantages:

• Peak Attraction: Brassica mixes like Big Sexy (featuring turnips and radishes), Smack Down (with kale and rape), and Show Stopper (a blend of hybrid brassicas) become highly palatable after the first frost, as their starches convert to sugars. This makes them a deer magnet from September through January, perfectly aligning with bow and gun seasons.

• High-Energy Forage: Fall hunt plots with brassicas and grains like 3-Way Grainz (a mix of winter rye, winter wheat, and oats), Green Machine (oats and peas), and NO BS (a high-yield rye blend) provide energy-rich carbohydrates and nutrients that deer need to prepare for the rut and survive harsh winter months. For example, Big Sexy’s turnip bulbs and Green Machine’s cereal grains offer calorie-dense food sources when other crops are harvested or dormant.

• Strategic Placement: Fall hunt plots with Smack Down or Show Stopper can be strategically placed near stand locations or travel corridors to funnel deer into your hunting area. The quick germination of 3-Way Grainz and NO BS ensures high forage output, making them ideal for creating “destination” food sources.

The Power of Diversity

Combining perennial and fall hunt plots with these specialized seed mixes creates a dynamic food plot system that benefits both deer and your property. By planting a mix of these plots, you can:

• Ensure Year-Round Food Availability: Perennials like Hot Chic and Comeback Kid provide spring and summer nutrition, while fall hunt plots with Big Sexy, Smack Down, Show Stopper, 3-Way Grainz, Green Machine, and NO BS take over in the colder months, ensuring deer never leave your property in search of food.

• Support Soil Health Through Crop Rotation: Alternating between annuals like 3-Way Grainz or Green Machine and perennials like Hot Chic prevents soil depletion and reduces pest or weed pressure, maintaining long-term productivity.

• Increase Hunting Success: Diverse food plots with Show Stopper’s late-season appeal or NO BS’s fast-growing grains attract deer at different times of the year, increasing their presence on your property and improving your chances of a successful hunt.

Farm & Home Supply: Your Source for Domain Outdoor Products

For all your food plot needs this fall, Farm & Home Supply in Quincy, Illinois, has you covered with a full range of Domain Outdoor seed mixes, including Hot Chic, Comeback Kid, Big Sexy, Smack Down, Show Stopper, 3-Way Grainz, Green Machine, and NO BS. They also stock Domain Outdoor plot-enhancing liquids, such as liquid fertilizers and soil conditioners, to boost germination and maximize forage quality. Whether you’re establishing a new plot or maintaining an existing one, their inventory ensures you have the tools to succeed. Be sure to stop by TODAY to stock up and get your food plots ready for the season!

Getting Started with Your Food Plot

Ready to transform your property into a deer haven? Here’s a quick guide to get started with these specific seed mixes:

1. Assess Your Property: Identify a location with adequate sunlight (4-6 hours daily) and good drainage. Use a mapping app like onX or HuntStand to plan plot placement near bedding areas or travel corridors.

2. Test Your Soil: Use a soil test kit to check pH and nutrient levels. Aim for a pH of 6.0-7.0, and apply Domain Outdoor plot-enhancing liquids as needed to optimize conditions for Hot Chic, Comeback Kid, or brassica-heavy mixes like Big Sexy.

3. Choose Your Seed Mix: For perennials, plant Hot Chic for a clover-chicory blend ideal for year-round nutrition or Comeback Kid for a resilient alfalfa-based plot. For fall hunt plots, select Big Sexy, Smack Down, or Show Stopper for brassica-heavy attraction, and complement with 3-Way Grainz, Green Machine, or NO BS for fast-growing, cold-tolerant grains like winter rye and winter wheat.

4. Prepare and Plant: Clear debris, apply Domain Outdoor liquid fertilizers, and plant according to the seed mix instructions. For small or no-till plots, use hand tools like rakes to ensure good seed-to-soil contact, especially for 3-Way Grainz or NO BS, which can be broadcast easily.

5. Maintain Your Plot: Monitor for weeds, reapply Domain Outdoor plot-enhancing liquids as needed, and mow perennials like Hot Chic periodically to encourage regrowth. For fall plots, ensure Smack Down or Show Stopper are planted early enough (8-10 weeks before frost) to maximize growth.

By blending perennial plots with Hot Chic and Comeback Kid and fall hunt plots with Big Sexy, Smack Down, Show Stopper, 3-Way Grainz, Green Machine, and NO BS, you can create a food plot system that keeps deer on your property year-round while promoting soil health and hunting success. Visit Farm & Home Supply TODAY to grab your Domain Outdoor seeds and plot-enhancing liquids and start building the ultimate deer habitat!